His father, a politician, was kidnapped, causing O Taeseok, along with his grandmother, to become a refugee, where he witnessed countless deaths.
[5] O Taeseok is most well-known as a theatre director and playwright who is extremely adept at portraying Korean life and state of mind.
Despite the loud, raucous atmosphere on stage, O Taeseok's work depicts the darkness of pain and the shadows of death.
[6] O Taeseok made his formal literary debut with his play Wedding Dress (웨딩드레스), which was recognized at the 1967 New Years Literary Arts Competition sponsored by The Chosun Ilbo, and Change of Season (환절기), which won a prize in a 1968 open playwriting competition co-sponsored by the National Theatre and the Kyunghyang Daily News.
In 1968 and 1969 his plays Change of Season (환절기), Judas, Before the Rooster Crows (유다여, 닭이 울기 전에), Outing (교행), and Self-Righting Doll on Roller Skates (롤러스케이트를 타는 오뚜기) were performed in several avant-garde theatres.